Composite truss for barns



(No Model.)

.J. W. EVANS.

COMPOSITE TRUSS FOR BARNs. No. 404,612. Patented June 4, 1889.

A T TOR/VE Y8.

UNITED STATES JAMEs' w. status, or

PATENT OFFICE.

KEARNEY, MISSOURI.

COMPOSITE TRUSS FOR BARNS.,

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 404,612, dated June 4, 1889.

Application filed December 4, 1888.

T aZL whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, JAMES IV. EVANS, of Kearney, in the county of Clay and State of Missouri, have invented a new and Improved Building-Truss, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of this invention. is to produce a building-truss by means of which the space above the chords may be left clear or the space below the chords may be left clear, the construction being particularly applicable for use in the building of barns where a clear mowspace is desired or where it is desired that the floor-space should be left clear.

To the ends named the invention consists of certain novel constructions and combinations, to be hereinafter described, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar figures and letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side view of a building-truss constructed in accordance with the terms of my invention, parts being broken away. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view on line 00 cc of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view, and Fig. 4 is a side view of a modified construction.

In constructing the truss forming the subject-matter of this application I make the posts, chord, sub-rafters, and straining-piece of planking instead of solid timber, the outer posts 10 being formed from a central thickness d of planking, which extends up beyond the chord, other pieces of like material bbeing secured to the lower portion of the central piece a, said pieces 1) serving as supports for the. outer sections e of the chord 11. These sections 6 are spaced by studs f and by bracingstrips g, the parts being bolted together, as shown in the drawings at 2', intermediate nails (as indicated by dots) being employed.

If it is desired to leave the mow-space clear, the chord 11 is supported by central or intermediate posts 12, which are made up of central and outer sections of timber, the central sections, which are shown at Z, extending up through the sections of the chord,while the outer sections m support the chord.

The sub-rafters 13 are formed of outer strips Serial No. 292,600. (No model.)

0 of planking, the upper ends of which are spaced by blocks 1), while the lower ends rest upon the chord s, as shown in the drawings, being firmly held to position by upperstrips q, that are nailed to the side faces of the upper ends of the central sections a of the posts 10. The straining-piece 14, by which the upper ends of the sub-rafters are united, is sectional, to correspond with the other portions of the frame, and the ends of the blocks or strips 1) enter the spaces between the ends of the outer sections of the straining-piece, struts or braces 15 being arranged as shown. To stiffen the sub-rafters I provide tie-bars, as 16, or I provide strips 17. Either construction may be employed. The posts 12 are extended above the chord so that the joists may be spiked thereto, and I prefer to have the chords extend beyond the posts, whereby joist-supports are formed. Shoulders r are left for purlins, and intermediate purlin-supports might be provided, if desired.

By means of the arch above described I secure a clear mow-space; but if it should be desired to secure a clear space below the chords, I would dispense with the intermediate posts 12 and support the chords by sustaining-rods 18, which pass through the ends of the straining-piece and through the chord.

By means of the construction above described I dispense with upper center-posts and secure increased mow-space. I save material and labor in the construction of the frame, and I find in practice that the composite chord is stronger than the ordinary form of solid chord; and although I have described this invention as a barn-truss, I desire it to be understood that the truss could be used for any form of building. 0

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A composite truss for barns, formed of outer posts 10, consisting of central planks a, shorter outer pieces 17, secured thereto, chord 11, consisting of inner and outer planks embracing at their ends the plank a and resting thereat on the upper ends of pieces I) b, the spacing-blocks between the chord-planks, the planking sub-rafters 18, secured at their lower ends to posts 10, straining-pieces 14, connecting the upper ends of the sub-rafters, and the braces connecting the upper ends of the cenw chord 11, consisting in inner and outer planks embracing planks ct between their ends and resting thereat on upper ends of pieces I), the shorter similarly-formed posts 12, the inner planks of Which pass up between the chordsections, the sub-rafters 13, secured at their lower ends to planks a at ends of chords 11, and the straining-piece 14, secured to upper ends of said rafters, substantially as set forth.

3. A truss for barns, consisting in the outer composite posts 1.0, having central planks a and shorter planks I), the chord 11, embracing the plank a at the upper ends of the planks Z), the sub-rafters 13, secured to planks a and connected at their upper ends by straining pieces 14, the braces connecting the upper ends of planks a with the said rafters, and the braces 15, connecting the said rafters with the straining-piece, substantially as set forth.

JAMES XV. EVANS.

Witnesses:

l. D. ANDERSON, A. L. NOR'FLEET. 

